Many international students hope to stay in Latvia after graduation and begin their careers here. For Latvian companies, this is a valuable pool of young professionals who are already integrated and motivated. However, few realize that choosing the wrong type of permit can ruin future chances for permanent residency (PR).
At Immigration Consulting Agency, we work with growing Latvian businesses that are in constant search of skilled employees and we help them tap into this often underutilized pipeline.
❗ But here’s what many employers and even candidates don’t realize:
Incorrect documentation or poorly timed applications after graduation can block a candidate’s future chances for long-term residency (PR) in Latvia.
☝ Under Latvian immigration law, international graduates can apply for a temporary residence permit to stay in Latvia for the purpose of job seeking or continuing studies. This is not a visa - it’s a legal status that allows uninterrupted residency.
Here’s what the law allows:
✔️ Bachelor’s graduates: Can stay in Latvia for up to 4 months to look for a job.
✔️ Master’s or PhD graduates: Can stay up to 13 months, if they apply in advance and receive approval from OCMA (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs).
This time can be used to search for jobs and transition to a work-based residence permit once employment is secured. Some students assume they can switch to a short-term visa after graduation. This is a critical mistake. Time spent under a visa does not count toward the five-year continuous stay needed for permanent residency in Latvia. Even a short gap between residence permits , for example, a few weeks on a visa can be considered a break in legal stay, resetting the five-year clock.
👉 Whether you’re an employer or a graduate, we’re here to help you make the right decisions for your future. Contact us to start planning the next steps without risking your long-term goals.
At Immigration Consulting Agency, we work with growing Latvian businesses that are in constant search of skilled employees and we help them tap into this often underutilized pipeline.
❗ But here’s what many employers and even candidates don’t realize:
Incorrect documentation or poorly timed applications after graduation can block a candidate’s future chances for long-term residency (PR) in Latvia.
☝ Under Latvian immigration law, international graduates can apply for a temporary residence permit to stay in Latvia for the purpose of job seeking or continuing studies. This is not a visa - it’s a legal status that allows uninterrupted residency.
Here’s what the law allows:
✔️ Bachelor’s graduates: Can stay in Latvia for up to 4 months to look for a job.
✔️ Master’s or PhD graduates: Can stay up to 13 months, if they apply in advance and receive approval from OCMA (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs).
This time can be used to search for jobs and transition to a work-based residence permit once employment is secured. Some students assume they can switch to a short-term visa after graduation. This is a critical mistake. Time spent under a visa does not count toward the five-year continuous stay needed for permanent residency in Latvia. Even a short gap between residence permits , for example, a few weeks on a visa can be considered a break in legal stay, resetting the five-year clock.
👉 Whether you’re an employer or a graduate, we’re here to help you make the right decisions for your future. Contact us to start planning the next steps without risking your long-term goals.
